Hiya! My name is Ashlyn, and I've been lurking the site a bit for a few months now. I have been collecting espresso machines of all types- I love coffee and espresso, and I love machinery and engineering. I decided to participate half to answer some questions I saw posted before, and half to ask some questions myself.

Hi, love the coffee here in Porltand, OR. Not a fan of burned beans so I tend not to drink espresso. I have a Technivorm Moccamaster and usually brew with Water Avenue, Courier Coffee, or Coava fresh roasted beans. If I'm not using the Technivorm I will do a hand pour. I always learn a lot here.

Though it's a couple hours drive, you need to get your butt over to Counter Culture in Raleigh-Durham. One, they most assuredly will make you great drinks. Two, they are great roasters! And, three, they offer classes.

Robert, only BAD espresso tastes like burned beans.

.Always remember the most important thing is what ends up in your cup!

I suppose that is true emradguy as long as you are not using a dark roast for your espresso. I just find (and this is personal preference here) that a dark roast often used for espresso get's rid of the inherent taste of the original beans. But I'm sure many would tell me that is nuts and that's what makes coffee great, there are so many perspectives.

no, actually many (myself included) would agree with you. It's just that we actually use medium roasts (Full City, maybe even Full City+, but nothing one would call "espresso roast") to make our espresso. We do use espresso blends, but not espresso roasts.

...and this is why you'll be hard pressed to find anyone on CG who likes *$$ :)

btw, welcome to the board!

.Always remember the most important thing is what ends up in your cup!

What's an espresso like made with a City or even American roast? Currently I just do hand pours and Technivorm but I like the idea of a trying an espresso made properly with something between first and second crack!

Red Bird Espresso (roasted to Full City+) has been described by many to resemble drinking a snickers bar. I've had that experience at home more with the decaf version than the regular, but yes, I have tasted that in the cup myself. They also roast another blend they call Blue Jaguar (because it has a lot of Datera Sweet Blue in it) and I actually like it a little better. It's roasted to Full City. check 'em out at www.redbirdcoffee.com This is just one of many that the CG members like a lot and rave about. There's a "list of our favorite roasters" on www.home-barista.com that includes many others who roast very, very well.

also, I'd think in Portland, there would be a good coffee house near you that can do it right. You might want to take a look at the map link that Coffeenoobie has on her signature line...in fact, why don't you start with Stumptown?

.Always remember the most important thing is what ends up in your cup!

I've had quite a few cups at Stumptown. These days I prefer Coava, Water Avenue, Courier, or Sterling. But for me Hairbender is a bit darker than they other fresh roasts they have. Now, I DO like a Stumptown espresso every now and again (or from one of the other places I mentioned) but those beans do seem to be a darker roast than what they use for their hand pours -- or at least it does to my eyes and tongue. I tend to think they use a City rather than a Full City or Full City+ for the hand pours.

Hey all! I'm new here, but I've been lurking for a while. I'm really interested in espresso and have been messing around with trying to pull the perfect shot for a little over a year now, and I know I have a long way to go to get to that point. Hoping to get there with the help of coffeegeek! :)

hi i am 53 years old and having started with espressos when i was about 12 and then fell in love with cappuccinos followed by espressos with grappa and sambucca. i now have a colection of coffee grinders coffee perqulators also 5 coffee machines my latest find is a 1986 elektra belle epoche which i am now restoring in my pesonal opinion it is the most beautiful coffee machine in the world. my first coffee machine was bought for me as present from my cousin in italy and it just went on from there.

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